Thermoregeneration of Fouling-Inhibiting Plastrons on Conductive Laser-Induced Graphene Coatings by Joule Heating

Superhydrophobic surfaces are capable to resist the adhesion of organisms through a surface bound air layer, known as a plastron. However, the lifetime of such plastrons is limited and their decay results in the loss of the protective barrier against organism attachment. Here a method is established to replenish the plastron by Joule heating of electrically conductive, superhydrophobic laser-induced graphene (SLIG) coatings. Local heating with a DC current reduces the water solubility of gases and the growth of an initial microplastron into a macroplastron through gas nucleation at the liquid-air interface is observed. Small temperature differences between the surface and the surrounding water could induce this effect. Different SLIG surfaces are challenged against biofouling by the diatom Navicula perminuta under dynamic conditions and it is shown that surfaces with intact plastron resist diatom accumulation. Surfaces without the protective air layer are found to accumulate high amounts of diatoms. The results underline the promising potential of plastron-based antifouling approaches because plastrons can be stabilized for extended times. This strategy could be applied to many other materials for an effective protection against fouling organism.

Automated summary

This study establishes a method to replenish and stabilize surface-bound air layers, known as plastrons, using electrically conductive superhydrophobic coatings. The results show that surfaces with intact plastrons resist organism attachment and accumulation, highlighting the promising potential of plastron-based antifouling approaches.